As part of that deal, Microsoft officially designated Commerce Server 2009 R2 as its last release of that product, with Ascentium taking on future releases. Microsoft also pledged to honor mainstream and extended support of Commerce Server 2009 through 2014 and 2019, respectively.

I didn't realize until recently that Commerce Server changed hands, again, in late 2013. Ascentium, which was renamed SMITH, sold Commerce Server to Sitecore in November last year. Sitecore, a Microsoft partner for more than a decade, sells customer experience management software and counts some very big worldwide brands among its customers. Several thousand of these customers are also Commerce Server customers, Sitecore officials say.

So now what happens when mainstream support for Commerce Server ends on July 7, 2014?

Microsoft customers who need any further information on Commerce Server and support should contact csinfo@sitecore.net.

Sitecore is working on another update to Commerce Server that it will detail in full later in July. This version will add support for some of Microsoft's more recently released platforms, such as Windows Server 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2012, Sitecore officials said. This new version also will include "fresh" support from Sitecore.